How to Cut Your Grocery Budget

We've all been there...there's still a week left in the month, the pantry is empty, and you only have $50 in your checking account. I've been there more often than I'd like to admit. Living off a one-income family requires sacrifice and quite often that means no more eating out or quickie convenience foods. I've learned how to cook more from scratch in the past year than I ever have! So, here are some suggestions on how to make your grocery budget stretch.

First, I suggest you meal plan. Look through your grocery store's weekly circular and plan your meals around the sales on meat, produce, & dairy from there. Look for meat below $2.50 a pound such as ground beef, smoked sausage, and chicken pieces (thighs and legs). Try the store brand--you can find everything from store brand flour to peanut butter to milk at less expensive prices. Frozen vegetables can usually be found for $1 a bag. For fruit, stick with bananas (always cheap!), and grab a bag of mixed apples and oranges. Cut out the granola bars, cookies, and chips! Not only do these increase your grocery bill, but they'll also increase your waist line! For breakfast, make your own muffins, pancakes, and flavored oatmeals. Stick with leftovers for lunch or make a big batch of homemade vegetable soup to eat through the week. Good 'ole PBJ sandwiches are always easy on the budget, too! Nothing beats a delicious home-baked chocolate chip cookie; they're more affordable & better for you!

Second, I encourage you to start using coupons. You can even match sale prices from grocery circulars up with coupons. If you don't subcribe to the newspaper, ask a friend who does to save the coupons for you; more than likely they just throw them away! You can also print coupons online through websites like http://www.coupons.com and http://www.smartsource.com . In some cases you can even print coupons directly from the manufacturer's website. You can get the best deals on toiletries and personal items at drug stores rather than grocery stores. Make sure you've signed up for a memebership card if the store offers.